School-desk



P.G.J0HNS0N.

SCHOOL- DESK,

.043. Patentedioct. 11, 18s-1.

mmm Yurln Imi-immun INVENTOR WITNBSSBS:

lJNiTED STATES )PATENT j OEEiCE.. f

FRANK e. JOHNSON, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SCHOOL-DESK- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No,.'248v,0 43, dated October 11, 1881.

Application filed April 16, 1879.

State of New York, have invented new andk useful Improvements in School and other' .Desksy and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw-y ings, making a part of this specication, infv whichv Figures l and 2 represent transverse elevations ot' the invention, and Fig. 3 a partial transverse section.

A represents the` body of the desk; B, the stationary or immovable part ofthe desk-top; C, Fig. 1, the folding or movable. portion of the desk-top turned down orin a folding position. Fig. 2 shows the movable portion of the desk-top in the position for writin g, which, for convenience, I will call the writing position.

The dotted lines above part G, in full lines, Fig. 2, represent the movable portion of the desk-top turned up from its front edge in a position for studying, which I will designate as the study position;7 c representingin dotted lines a book in position to be read or studied.

The dotted or broken lines below theI part C, iii full lines, Fig. 2,represent the movable desktop folded, with its frontiedge drawn back to give the student access to the book-box A. Fig. 3 shows in full lines the movable desktop in a study position (as it might be placed to accommodate a tall student) somewhat elevated above the usualA study position, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2.

The dotted lines in Fig. 4 indicate the mov-a able desk-top in the study position (as it might be placed by a short student) somewhat lowered from the usual study position, as shown in dotted lines at C, Fig. 2.

To render it possible toplace the movable 'desk-top in these tive different postions, and

d, are hinged two,holding,arms, c, and to these arms c is securely fastened the movable deskedge, next to the student. the movable desk-top C ishiiiged o'ii both its top C. By these means the'movable edge of i the movable desk-top'next to the student, when vit the desk-top) is resting on themovable supporting-arms J, can be raised and lowered as it its inner edge were hinged to the 'desk at the points e, andv the two holding-arms c, to which the movablefdesk-top Gis firmly fastened, being hinged to theouter ends ofthe movable supporting-arms J, the inner edge (the edge farthest from the student) can be raised and lowered as if it were hinged (as it reallyis) on the back edge, or nearA the` back Hence, iii effect,

front edge and back edge, while the compound movements which result from the combination ot the two above-described movements enables the stiideiitto place the movable desk-top at any desired pointI lof elevation, as well as to give it any required slope, as shown by Figs. l1, 2, and 3. Besides thus converting the top of the desk int-o au easel by raising its front edge 1 toward the student, I also thereby automatically produce and provide a suitable book-rest, D, of such a character that it will lsecurely hold, without the aidof the students hand, anysized book, from the thickness of'a sheet of paper to the largest school-book, however stii and unyielding it may be. This book-rest D is produced as follows, namely: The supporting-arms J of the desk-top C are terminated from the hinge d of the carrying-arms c by a seniiciroular curve extended around and under and upin front ot the back edge of the movable desk-top C, and joined together by a strip of the same curve from one supporting-arm, J, to the other. This curve is a section of a'hollow cylinder described by that part of the movable desk-top C which extends toward the student beyond the hinge-points d. The capacity of this book-rest D will depend upon the diameter of its curve. The curve of the book-rest D is extended downward below and under the movable desk-top C, just below the edge of the same, when it (the desk-top C) is at its greatest elevation as an easel, to prevent paper from dropping down between the desktop C and the bottom of the book-rest D. flhe curve of the book-rest D extends upward, to come up iii front of the desk-top C only just flush with its upper surface when itt-the desktop G) rest-'s on the supporting-arms J, to pre- IOO vent any projection ot' the book-rest D above the Lipper surface of the desk-top G. By this means a more or less Vshaped book-rest, D, is provided, which adapts itself to books ot' different thicknesses. The book-rest D being open at the ends admits of sheets of paper, maps, &c., which may be larger than thelength of the book-rest itself'.

By this means of producing a book-rest for thedesk-top when it (the desk-top) is employed as an easel I do not at all destroy the uniform surface ofthe desk-top or the straight lines of the edges of the same, or project any obstacle in the way of the student, or require any act on the part of the student to place or replace the book-rest, save to simply elevate the desk-top G to provide the easel.

It will be observed that this method ot' producing theeasel .and book-rest in no way depends upon the movement ot' the supportingarms J, for it is as applicable to a stationary deskthat is, t0 a desk in which the supporting-arms J are not movable, the movement of the supporting-arms J being provided for to render the desk folding, to economize space and increase the passage-way between the rows of desks when the desk-tops are not in use.

The hinges, both at e and d, are made suiciently friction-tight to support the movable desk-top C in any desired position.

To firmly secure the movable desk-top C in what I term the writing position,7 as shown in Fig. 2, C, I provide a rigid stop or support to the supporting-arms J in the following manner, namely: Upon the lower side ot' the front ends of the supporting-arms J, I provide a suitable curved projection, E, to strike against the dog or stop G. This dog or stop G is oval in shape, and constitutes the short arm of a simple lever, of which the long arm is F. Such a lever is provided at both thesupportingarms J. f

I do not claim any part of the construction and arrangement ot' the arms by which the desk-top is attached to the frame, or ot' the dogs or stops by which the desk-top is secured in a writing position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a school-desk, the desk-top C, hinged near its front edge to the supporting-arms J, the arms constructed with a curved book-rest, D, so that such front edge may, when the top is elevated, swing down into said rest, and when depressed, such arms to swing out of and cover up said rest, substantially as described.

f FRANK G. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

R. H. GALPEN, FRANK CHAMBERS. 

